Ajisafe/Francis Channel 5 - British title Saturday
Ajisafe/Francis Channel 5 - British title Saturday
Interesting fight Ajisafe is difficult to beat and although not the most exciting to watch he seems to have some decent skills. Wondering what dean will have left at his age, he was a tremendous fighter before that injury against white, remember watching that night and it always looked career changing at the time and it has proved to be. Francis has home advantage but looks up against it here for me.
Re: Ajisafe/Francis Channel 5 - British title Saturday
Dean Francis belatedly gets it on with Bob Ajisafe for the vacant British light-heavyweight title in a match televised at Reading on March 15 by Channel 5. (These two were due to meet last year until Francis injured a hand in training, although at least it wasn't a shoulder.)
The title, a proper title of course, was stripped from Liverpool bomber Tony Bellew, who made a move into world class, and it was against Bellew that an unknown Ajisafe really made his name in a 12-rounder in London back in 2010. On the night an unbeaten Bellew was looking down his nose at an an 8-1 Ajisafe who had lost to another Scouser, Carl Dilks, in the opening stage of Prizefighter. However, Bellew went down in the fourth round (a flash knockdown) and spent the remainder of the fight trying vainly to nail the tricky Ingle southpaw from Leeds, who lost quite closely on the cards. Ajisafe showed he can hold his own with the big boys and has languished in a world of 'who needs him!' ever since, with just three outings, three wins.
Coincidentally, Francis has also spent long periods out of the game since turning pro as long ago as May 1994 in the long-forgotten boxing venue of London's Porchester Hall. It means that the Basingstoke man who might just be older than Joe Walcott (the original) has lost only once in the last 11 years when Sheffield's John "Buster" Keeton, another Ingle man, upended him in the first round in Prizefighter in 2009 in what was a major shock, although it came up at cruiserweight and Francis has won three on the spin back down at light-heavyweight.
Francis, whose father Trevor was ABA champion in the 1970s and with former rugged pro Chris Sanigar on board, has serious boxing ability and a dangerous left hook but a troublesome right shoulder has long held him back (much as a troublesome right hand held back John Conteh) and you wonder about the man's ambition these days at 40. (Ajisafe is 28.) Francis has already held this British title, you know, along with a host of other big ones.
Nevertheless, Dean can go 12 rounds in his sleep and he showed against Ovill McKenzie a few years ago just how dangerous he can be with that left hook, finishing the Jamaican in stunning fashion in the first round. (Ajisafe was only able to outpoint McKenzie over eight rounds.) Dean also stopped tough Tony Oakey, and that takes some doing. Yes, you wonder about the Keeton result but Francis will have the crowd on his side and the obvious edge in power and experience and he might prove a bit too positive for the elusive Ajisafe in a match that looks certain to be close and certain to go the full 12 rounds.
The title, a proper title of course, was stripped from Liverpool bomber Tony Bellew, who made a move into world class, and it was against Bellew that an unknown Ajisafe really made his name in a 12-rounder in London back in 2010. On the night an unbeaten Bellew was looking down his nose at an an 8-1 Ajisafe who had lost to another Scouser, Carl Dilks, in the opening stage of Prizefighter. However, Bellew went down in the fourth round (a flash knockdown) and spent the remainder of the fight trying vainly to nail the tricky Ingle southpaw from Leeds, who lost quite closely on the cards. Ajisafe showed he can hold his own with the big boys and has languished in a world of 'who needs him!' ever since, with just three outings, three wins.
Coincidentally, Francis has also spent long periods out of the game since turning pro as long ago as May 1994 in the long-forgotten boxing venue of London's Porchester Hall. It means that the Basingstoke man who might just be older than Joe Walcott (the original) has lost only once in the last 11 years when Sheffield's John "Buster" Keeton, another Ingle man, upended him in the first round in Prizefighter in 2009 in what was a major shock, although it came up at cruiserweight and Francis has won three on the spin back down at light-heavyweight.
Francis, whose father Trevor was ABA champion in the 1970s and with former rugged pro Chris Sanigar on board, has serious boxing ability and a dangerous left hook but a troublesome right shoulder has long held him back (much as a troublesome right hand held back John Conteh) and you wonder about the man's ambition these days at 40. (Ajisafe is 28.) Francis has already held this British title, you know, along with a host of other big ones.
Nevertheless, Dean can go 12 rounds in his sleep and he showed against Ovill McKenzie a few years ago just how dangerous he can be with that left hook, finishing the Jamaican in stunning fashion in the first round. (Ajisafe was only able to outpoint McKenzie over eight rounds.) Dean also stopped tough Tony Oakey, and that takes some doing. Yes, you wonder about the Keeton result but Francis will have the crowd on his side and the obvious edge in power and experience and he might prove a bit too positive for the elusive Ajisafe in a match that looks certain to be close and certain to go the full 12 rounds.
Re: Ajisafe/Francis Channel 5 - British title Saturday
It's incredible that Dean is still boxing after all this time; if things had been slightly different then his career would have been a successful one and finished years ago with him well off. I liked his style as an amateur and as a fledgling pro though as time went on he depended on his power too much. Ajisafe seems to be fit all the time and can fiddle and box a lot; I'm pleased it's on channel 5 but can't imagine an entertaining fight.
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ShadrachSimmo
- Cruiserweight
- Posts: 4738
- Joined: 20 Oct 2010, 05:42
Re: Ajisafe/Francis Channel 5 - British title Saturday
Both have been out the ring nearly a year you'd think the title would have been contested for in that time.
I think ajisafe will grind Francis down. He's awkward and tough. And at 40 years old I feel
Francis is too old and this could be his last fight.
I think ajisafe will grind Francis down. He's awkward and tough. And at 40 years old I feel
Francis is too old and this could be his last fight.
Re: Ajisafe/Francis Channel 5 - British title Saturday
Aren't they turning this into some weird knockout tournament thing?
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Boxing Prospect
- Light Heavyweight
- Posts: 6592
- Joined: 25 Jun 2012, 14:35
Re: Ajisafe/Francis Channel 5 - British title Saturday
Whilst it's a fight that will appeal to us it's sadly not a good fight for channel 5 who will see viewers turning off.
Re: Ajisafe/Francis Channel 5 - British title Saturday
Channel 5 seem to be hyping the tournament nature of this event, rather than as individual fights. So maybe people will stick to it?Boxing Prospect wrote:Whilst it's a fight that will appeal to us it's sadly not a good fight for channel 5 who will see viewers turning off.